Green Treehouse

Ever thought, there’s no way I’m using cloth diapers? Well, the bumGenius Organic One Size Cloth Diaper might change your tune.

Move over sposies. The award winning bumGenius One Size Cloth Diaper design is now available in organic! It’s a totally easy to use design. Perfect for use by cloth newbies and die hard, experienced cloth diapering fans. the bumGenius “no-stuff” design offers stretch tabs for a perfect fit, along with simple hook and loop fasteners. Use it like you would a disposable diaper–but with the environmental bonus of reuse, over and over again. There’s no need for a waterproof cover. The absorbent layer is completely integrated into a waterproof outer layer. The bumGenius design is so brilliant, you’ll probably have to remind yourself that it’s cloth!

Oh, if you’re looking for the perfect baby shower gift…this is it! New moms will love putting this diaper on their newborns.

That pink positive sign on a home pregnancy test means someone, probably mom-to-be holding the test stick, is about to get really busy.

With baby comes a lot of planning and decision making. Like deciding when to schedule prenatal appointments. Deciding what color to paint the nursery. Selecting a baby name–or names…just in case! Figuring out who to include on the baby shower invite list. And, last but not least, determining whether to plan a natural birth (a.k.a. unmedicated), and if so, figuring out what natural childbirth method seems like a comfortable approach.

For new moms thinking about natural childbirth, the following brief review of four popular natural childbirth methods might help simplify planning for baby:

1. Lamaze. A method that teaches ways to decrease pain and improve control during labor through deep breathing and concentration.

2. Alexander Technique. A method to help pregnant, as well as non-pregnant women, discover how to release muscular tension, increase breathing capacity, and calm the body in preparation for effective pushing.

3. Bradley Method. This method helps to provide families and couples simple and effective natural birth techniques. Classes include workbooks, information on pain management, and information on labor coaches/doulas.

4. Hypnobirthing This method (a.k.a. Mongan Method) helps build an understanding of how to trust birth and the birthing body, essentially replacing resistence and fear with relaxation.

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While the Gerber Baby, Anne Turner Cook, may be well into her seventies, her charcoal drawn baby image hasn’t aged as the official Gerber image.

Like the image, the company doesn’t seem to show any signs of age. With its new Organic collection of bed and bath basics (to complement the line of organic apparel that debuted in 2006), Gerber actually seems cutting-edge and in tune with what today’s parents want. The Gerber Organics collection gives moms and dads yet another eco-friendly alternative when it comes to choosing bed and bath essentials for baby, like crib sheets and washcloths.

Now, anyone can have a Green Gerber Baby.

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Over the weekend I picked up a copy of Raising Baby Green by Alan Greene, M.D. As soon as I saw the book on the bookshelf, I knew I had to get it. If only I had a few uninterrupted minutes to sit down and read it today, beyond the quick skim….

Pack a Green Hospital Bag

What is really neat about this book is that it includes Earth-Friendly advice for pregnancy and labor and delivery. That’s pretty cool, don’t you think? For example, it features a “Going Green” Hospital Bag List that reminds expecting moms to pack high-energy organic snacks and filtered water in the hospital bag.

Here are some other “Green” items expecting moms can include in the hospital bag:

* organic or natural toiletries
* massage oil, like Maclaren Beginning’s Cocooning Massage Oil
* organic or natural lip moisturizer
* a digital camera - take lots of photos, print only the ones you want
* an organic onesie for baby

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Have you ever wondered what you should teach your baby before she jets off to kindergarten? Or ever wondered if you’re teaching her enough? At the end of the day, it’s sometimes difficult to see all that you have taught your child, especially if you can’t recall specific “teaching” moments. But believe it or not, your baby is learning more than you realize.

Teach Baby With These Five Green Treehouse Picks

To enrich your child’s education, here are five must-have books to add to your bookshelf:

1. Gund’s Touch and Feel Rattle Book. This is the perfect first book for baby.

2. Sassy Baby’s Loved Ones. The perfect photo book for introducing your new baby to special faces, like grandma’s face.

3. Baby Enstein. Whether you introduce your baby to Baby Einstein’s Chunky Board Book or to Baby Einstein’s Master Pieces Book that features classical artists, you’ll realize that teaching is a breeze–and so much fun. Baby will love reading these books over and over again.

4. What Your Preschooler Needs to Know, edited by E.D. Hirsch. Hands down a fabulous book for teaching your preschooler, with short and easy lessons ranging from environmental lessons to sing-a-long songs.

5. Healthy Child Healthy World. This book may be intended for mom and dad to help them create an environmentally sound and healthy home, but little ones will certainly learn a thing or two through observation and conversation.

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A stranger approached me the other day to tell me that my baby looked tan. As if I didn’t already have enough mom guilt (for other reasons, like taking time to use the bathroom by myself from time to time) to keep me going for the rest of my life…. Tan? I don’t think I could lather on any more sunscreen on this baby. I swear she tans through SPF 50.

Speaking of sunblock, if you didn’t already know, in the United States skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. According to Healthy Child Healthy World, when you’re looking to protect your child (and yourself) against UVA and UVB rays, look for products that are “full spectrum”–meaning they include ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that form a barrier on your skin. Also, look for a high SPF, ideally at least 15. And, when it comes to babies and children, look for paraben-free products. Parabens are potentially nasty forms of preservatives with suspected links to cancer.

Of course, don’t forget the baby cabana, too. And be sure to take a picture of baby in it, so you can whip it out the next time someone comments on your baby’s skin shade.

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Yeah, today I found another food my baby will happily eat. HappyBaby’s HappyBellies Oatmeal Cereal. After having two previously picky babies, it’s really rewarding to have a baby who finally enjoys food and sitting down to eat. Known for my love of packaging, I picked up a container of this organic baby cereal at my local grocery store. It was an instant hit! I thought oatmeal was just oatmeal, but this oatmeal is a mom’s dream, packed with probiotics, DHA and 60% of baby’s daily value of iron.

Dr. Sears is even quoted on the cereal container, saying “Baby foods with probiotics are a great way to make sure your baby’s system has plenty of what I like to call ‘good bowel bugs.’ These healthful bacteria strengthen intestinal immune defenses by crowding out ‘bad’ bacteria.”

If you’ve stumbled across a food that transformed your picky eater into a super eater, please leave a comment and share with other parents–after all, it takes a village…!

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A friend of mine believes the carpet in her new home is responsible for the start of her child’s allergies. She’s not the only mom concerned about flooring materials and health, or who blames carpet for respiratory problems. While carpet is great for protecting new crawlers and new walkers from bumps and bruises as they explore the world around them, there is plenty of research out there to suggest links between carpet flooring and health issues.

Air quality is the major problem. Carpet emits Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), chemicals that are used in manufacturing and preparing the carpet. Many VOCs are irritants. Some are toxic. Exposure symptoms can include headaches and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Molds and fungi that get trapped in carpet are also potential irritants.

Conscious flooring decisions can go a long way toward improving indoor air quality. If you’re thinking about that new nursery or child’s room, here are three eco-friendly alternatives to consider:

1. Bamboo. Considered a green choice when it comes to flooring. Recyclable, renewable and biodegradable.

2. Cork. Also considered a green flooring choice. Renewable, hypoallergenic and toxic free.

3. Low-VOC carpet. Read the label before you buy to confirm it has been tested by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Indoor Air Quality testing program. Look for the CRI icon imprinted inside a tiny green house, which indicates the product passes the low emissions standard. Also consider wool, cotton, camel’s hair, sisal, hemp or seagrass.

If you’ve picked an eco-friendly flooring alternative for your child’s room, leave a comment and tell us all about it!

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Looking for a creative nursery theme? What about bugs? That’s the theme I would have picked for my little guy had I known just a wee bit earlier that he would come to love bugs. He loved bugs so much as a baby and toddler that he used to fall asleep with Margaret Wise Brown’s book I Like Bugs tucked in next to him.

The bug theme is simply adorable for a boy or girl. Plus, you can spin off so many cute nicknames for baby-to-be–hmmm…buggy, snuggle-bug, ladybug. If you’re looking for baby bug nursery paraphernalia or theme inspiration, check out these luscious bug washcloths by Little Twig to get your creative juices flowing.

Have a creative theme to share with other readers who are seeking nursery theme inspiration?

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If you thought glass baby bottles were old school, think again. Glass baby bottles are making a comeback. Babylife is just one company to reintroduce glass baby bottles, only with a modern safety sleeve that helps prevents breakage. BornFree and Dr. Brown’s make glass bottles, too.

Why the glass craze? In light of recent concerns about exposure to chemicals in plastic bottles (leaching), manufacturers are responding to the growing demand for plastic alternatives by offering glass bottles that are bisphenol A, phthalate, PVC and polycarbonate-free. Now, parents have more choices than ever when it comes to baby bottles. Even fashionable and totally funky glass bottles!

If you’re looking for a baby shower gift that has eco-chic mama written all over it, glass bottles are it!

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